Elder



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(-No Model.)

M. T. MALOY.

FOLDING POULTRY COOP.

Patented Feb. 19, 188 9..

2 Sheets-Sham; 2.

(No Model.)

M. T. MALOY.

FOLDING POULTRY COOP.

Patented Feb. 19, 1889.

NY PETERS. PimlvLulwgmphcr, wnsnm m. 0.6v

UNITED STATES PATENT Erica.

MICHAEL T. MALOY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO JAMES H. BATCH-ELDER, OF SAME PLACE.

FOLDING POULTRY-COOP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 398,338, datedFebruary 19, 1889. Application filed December 4, 1888 Serial No.292,606. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MICHAEL T. MALOY, of l Chicago, in the county ofCook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and use 5 fulImprovementsin a Folding Poultry-Coop,

of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, thatwill enable others to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part [0 of this specification.

This invention relates to coops of the knockdown class, used principallyin the transportation of poultry, the object being to provide an articleof this character which may be compactly folded, so as to occupy butlittle space in storage on return shipment when empty.

Figure] is a vertical longitudinal section of a folding coop embodyingmy improved features, one of the ends being turned down in a foldedposition; Fig. 2, a vertical transverse section in plane 2, Fig. 1.Figs. 3 and 4 are detached details of construction showing the lowerends of the hinge and brace rods and the manner of securing the same tothe bottom of the coop; Fig. 5, a section in plane 5, Fig. 1, showingthe brace-rod E and the clamp ing-nails securing the two thicknesses oflath together; Fig. 6, a longitudinal section showing the coop in afolded position; Fig. 7, a transverse section in plane 7, Fig. 6; Fig.8, a horizontal corner section in plane 8, Fig. 1; and Fig. 9, abroken-away side view.

Referring to the drawings, A A represent the sides; B B, the ends; C,the top; and D, the bottom.

The slats a, forming the sides of the structure, usually consist of twothicknesses of lath properly secured together. The ends of the sideslats are rigidly secured to the cornerposts a. The sides are stiffen edand strengthened by means of the angular wire rods E E, which extendupwardly and inwardly in a diagonal plane from the bottom to the top, asshown in Fig. 1. The rods E are composed of a single piece, and arefirmly clamped and held between the two laths or strips forming theseries of slats a, as shown in Fig. 5. The highest part of the rod orrods E lies in a horizontal plane between the two thicknesses formingthe upper slat on each s de. At the junction with the bottom of the coop(see Fig. 3) the brace-rods E are bent to form the loop a and areloosely secured to the bottom by the staple a forming a hinged joint forthe movement of the sides. The end parts of the brace and hinge rod Eextend vertically and terminate at a point near the top of the sides, asshown in Fig. 1.

About one foot from each end of the structure are the transverse braceand guide rods F F, which run along the under side of the top 0, theterminal ends overlapping and bein g rigidly secured to the top edgebars, d of the cover, as shown in Fig. 7. The brace and binge rods E areprovided with the loop a at their point of junction with the companionrods F, so as to engage with the same, as shown in Fig. 9. Thus thesides of the structure will ride on the rods F when being converted fromone position to the other'. The central parts of the braces F are bentclownward to form the offset a (see Fig. 7) and pass under thelongitudinal central ridge-bar, a The braces F are rigidly fastened derside of the ridge-bara \Vhen folded, the oifset a in the braces Fpermits of the sides assuming a flat horizontal position, as shown inFig. '7, the top and sides beingthus adjustably secured together andfolding simultaneously.

The ends B B of the structure consist of the series of slats b, whichare retained in proper relative position by the brace and hinge rods HH. These rods are provided at their junction with the bottom of the coopwith loops b, (see Fig. 4,) and are secured thereto by means of thestaple 19 thus forming a hinged joint for the folding movement of theends and securing the same as an integral part of the structure. Thebraces H extend upwardly in a diagonal plane in the direction of thecenter, and then horizontally along the central part of the top slat.The bracesH are placed on the outside of the slats forming the ends, theslats and braces being clinched together by means of the staples b theterminal ends extending upwardly from the bottom and being secured tothe slats in the same manner.

to the un- The ends of the slats I) step inside of and against the slatsforming; the sides, whereby the ends of the structure have a tendency towedge out the sides and hold the same in a true perpendicular position.

The under side of the ridge-bar u is pro vided at each end with a notch,d, (see Fig. 1,) for the engagement of the upper edge ol the top slat olthe ends and to lock the parts when in an un'lolded position. Theseparts are easily sprung sulficiemtly to disengage the ends from theridge-bar when the coop is to be folded. lhe ends are first foldedinward and lie Hat on the bottom. Next the sides are pressed inward, thetop following, thus bringing all the parts into a horizontal and compactfolded position.

Having thus described my invention, whatl claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is.*

1. In a folding coop, the combination, with the bottom, ofthefoldingsides,thebraee and hinge rods E E, the top, the brace or guiderods F F, seemed to the under side of said top, the folding ends, andthe brace and hinge rods 11 II, adjustably securing said ends to saidbotton'l, whereby all the parts are adapted to fold in a horizontalposition, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a folding coop, the combination,with the bottom and the foldingends, of the brace and hinge rods ll ll, as described, and the ridgc-baru'", provided at each end with a notch for the engagement of said ends,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

MICHAEL T. MALOY.

Witnesses:

L. M. FREEMAN. L. B. COUPLAND.

